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Britain's Ministry of Defense (MOD) announced Monday the successful firing of its new air missile defense system able to intercept and destroy enemy missiles traveling at supersonic speeds.
The Sea Ceptor missiles have been designed to protect the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, the biggest warships ever built in Britain.
Defense Minister Harriett Baldwin confirmed the first firings of the new air defense system, describing it as a major milestone for the Royal Navy.
Baldwin, made the announcement on a visit Monday to the site near Bristol of the defense company MBDA where she met graduates, apprentices and other employees working on the Sea Ceptor system.
The first firings were conducted from the Royal Navy warship HMS Argyll off the coast of Scotland.
Baldwin said: "It will launch from the Royal Navy's new Type 26 frigates as they keep our nuclear deterrent submarines and the UK's two new aircraft carriers safe on operations around the globe."
The MOD said Sea Ceptor is being fitted to replace the Sea Wolf weapon system on the Type 23 frigates. The replacement air defense system will also be used on the new Type 26 frigates and Land Ceptor, which will replace Rapier for the British Army.
The Sea Ceptor uses innovations in radar and datalink technology that will guide the potent missiles with pinpoint accuracy, added the MOD.
The system uses a new British-developed missile capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 3 and will have the ability to deal with multiple targets simultaneously, protecting an area of around 1,300 square kilometers over land or sea.
"It will provide the Royal Navy with an improved shield against airborne threats such as the new generation of supersonic anti-ship missiles, fast jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles," said an MOD spokesman in London.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
